Two heads are not better than one when it comes to answering difficult questions, study finds

LONDON - People are better at answering difficult, unexpected or creative questions on their own rather than in group discussion, new research has suggested. A study by scientists found that individuals could be better at problem solving on their own, as long as they were confident in their own answers. When they attempted to answer in groups, those who offered the right answer tended to be drowned out by more confident members who confused them or led them astray, the research found. The findings suggest the old adage "too many cooks spoil the broth" could indeed be more accurate than "two heads are better than one", as people are better off thinking for themselves. The study, led by Prof Asher Koriat of Haifa University, Israel, asked participants a series of questions to determine how often an individual answered correctly compared with pairs or groups. The Daily Telegr...